{"id":5796,"date":"2018-07-13T18:16:54","date_gmt":"2018-07-14T01:16:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=5796"},"modified":"2018-07-13T18:27:51","modified_gmt":"2018-07-14T01:27:51","slug":"aasiyah-mahragan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2018\/07\/13\/aasiyah-mahragan\/","title":{"rendered":"Mahragan and the Voice of a Generation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Music and Movement<\/h2>\n

\"Collage\" <\/p>\n

by Aasiyah<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tposted July 11, 2018\t <\/span><\/h3>\n

Cairo, a bustling, multi-dimensional metropolis in which custom Range Rover and Lexus SUVs share the packed streets with multifamily mopeds, microbuses, and 1970\u2019s Volvos spewing thick clouds of diesel. Hagas (slang term for older, covered women) selling 1 L.E. tissue packets out of pillowcases and old men smoking shisha outside block sized Ahwas (coffee cafes) are existing amidst the thriving new luxury suburban housing complexes, exclusive downtown nightclubs, and Mercedes Benz dealerships. As you try to soak it all in on the 20 km ride from Cairo International to a hotel along the Corniche it would seem as if any evidence of the 2011 revolution has disappeared. <\/p>\n

The daze brought on by sensory and emotional overload is quickly broken by a rage of autotune blasting from the line of tuk-tuks whizzing past you in traffic. It is there, in that autotune where the heart of the Cairo youth lives.<\/p>\n

This is no Umm Kulthoum<\/a><\/span>. This music is called mahragan<\/em> (Arabic for festival). It is a ubiquitous presence in Cairo life, roaring from the backs of tuk-tuks and motorbikes. The unique synchronization of electronic dance music supporting provocative lyrics has not only become the soundtrack to street weddings, this is the anthem of the new Egyptian generation. Artists such as Oka w Ortega<\/span>, Sadat<\/span> (No, not the former president, Anwar Sadat<\/span>. He was assassinated in 1981), DJ Amr Haha<\/span>, DJ Figo<\/span>, and Madf3gya<\/span> create pervasive messages discussing drugs, sex, harassment, violence, poverty, and politics. Topics that resonate with the lower-class, poor, young men of Egypt, a majority population that went relatively ignored by Cairo until 2011.<\/p>\n

Although having only gained international attention due to association with the revolution in 2011, mahragan started making waves on the local Cairo scene in the early 2000\u2019s. Pioneering artists DJ Figo, Sadat, Alaa Fifty<\/span>, and DJ Amr Haha began creating sha3bi fusion music with cheap synthesizers in basement clubs of the Madinet-el-Salaam slums [1]. This fun, extravagant metallic mix quickly spread throughout Salaam City and the surrounding areas. Over time the music evolved from a party soundtrack popular at street weddings to a portal for political statement with the release of DJ Figo\u2019s single Ana Baba, Yala<\/em> (I am Daddy, Boy) and Sadat, Alaa Fifty, w DJ Figo\u2019s Rab El Shab wEl Hokoma <\/em>(Rap of The People and The Government). <\/p>\n

Still, since it predates the overthrow of Hossni Mubarak<\/span>, Mahragan artists don\u2019t necessary associate the music with the revolution. According to Sadat, "Not all the Egyptians are part of the revolution \u2013 the slum areas until now are not interested in anything other than eating.\u201d [1]<\/p>\n\n\n